Emmys 2026: Lena Hall On Ali’s Journey On ‘Your Friends & Neighbors,’ How She Would Direct the Musical ‘Chess’ [VIDEO]

Tony-winner Lena Hall continues to dive deep into the psyche of the singular character of Ali on season two of Apple TV+’s envelope-pushing dramedy Your Friends & Neighbors.

Though placed in the Drama category for Emmys, the show is, quite often, a super dark comedy with its share of riveting dramatic moments. Perhaps, like Elsbeth, the miscategorization contributed to its virtual lack of Emmy love – it received one nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.

The award progs are at fault as well for almost completely ignoring the show and underappreciating its potential.

Anyone tuning in cannot deny the great work being done by the actors and, in season two, the stakes are raised and the principal cast, including Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, newbie James Marsden and, especially, Hall are more than rising to the challenge.

Created by Jonathan Tropper, the series continues to follow the lunatic antics of once-wealthy Andrew “Coop” Cooper (Hamm), who, after being fired from his hedge fund job, discovered his criminal side in season one and got into all kinds of mayhem. The insanity ante is upped in season two with the arrival of the mysterious billionaire Owen Ashe (James Marsden).

Coop’s sister Ali (Hall) is still living with him and, at the recommendation of her former sister-in-law Mel (Amanda Peet), takes on a job at the local private high school teaching music. Ali is also trying to navigate her tenuous relationship with her naggingly critical mother.

Midseason, she must also deal with a tragedy that affects the entire Cooper family. Hall is given some intense, emotionally-charged scenes, especially in episodes 6 and 7, that dive deep into Ali’s anguish and her insecurities. Hall’s Ali gets to fight for her right to be her own person and it’s exhilarating to watch.

The singer/songwriter and actor began her young career as a ballet dancer. She made her Broadway debut in Cats in 1999, then took over the role of Anytime Annie in the most recent revival of 42nd Street. She won a Tony Award for portraying Yitzhak, opposite Neil Patrick Harris, in the 2014 Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Her other theater credits include Radiant Baby at the Public Theater (2003), Dracula, the musical on Broadway (2004), The Toxic Avenger at New World Stages (2009), the original cast of Kinky Boots on Broadway (2013), How to Transcend a Happy Marriageat Lincoln Center Theater (2017) and the recent off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors (2022) as Audrey.

Her film work includes, Sex and the City (2008), The Big Gay Musical (2009) and the wonderful indie film, Becks (2017), where she played the titular character. On TV she appeared in the TNT series, Snowpiercer from 2020 to 2024.

She’s also put out two studio albums and a live album.

I was surprised to learn that Hall had been involved in the early development stages of the current Broadway revival of Chess with director Michael Mayer and book writer Danny Strong, beginning in 2014 when she came up with the idea. That culminated in a benefit concert for The Entertainment Community Fund starring Hall as Florence, Ramin Karimloo as Anatoly, Darren Criss as Freddie and Bryce Pinkham as The Arbiter (the only one to move on to Broadway) in December of 2022. Hall was passed over for the role because her name wasn’t a big enough draw to “sell a Broadway theater.” She was obviously disappointed, but then Your Friends and Neighbors came along.

This new production suffers from a misguided book, among other things, (You can read my review HERE) but Hall reveals in the video below that, “There’s so much that goes into it. It’s not like they had cart blanche to do whatever they wanted. They actually had to keep certain things in.”

“I think everybody is dying for Chess to be a musical that works,” she continues. “The expectations are so high, so it’s really hard to please everyone.”

She offers: “If I did it and I directed it, I would do it more like how Jamie Lloyd does it…I would strip it way down…If I had my way, it would be a rock band and maybe 10 people onstage. It would be a character study and these amazing rock songs.”

Her ideas are terrific so who knows, perhaps after Your Friends & Neighbors wraps, someone will listen and give her her shot at Florence! In the meanwhile, fans will be thrilled with more Ali and more seasons of YF&N, which is now streaming on Apple TV+. Season Three is currently filming.

The Contending had another fab time chatting with Hall.